Toure Set for Crunch Talks

Possible fitness concerns over Yaya Toure could see Pep Guardiola heading for yet another showdown with the veteran midfielder.

Toure set for crunch talks

The Manchester City boss surprisingly left the former Ivory Coast international out of his Champions League squad for the midweek 4-0 stroll over Swiss side Basel, which seemingly has the Premier League leaders with one foot in the quarter-finals.

Toure had returned to training last weekend after a sickness bug although Pep has appeared to suggest the 34-year-old might again be falling short of his exacting fitness demands.

Guardiola hinted: 'He (Toure) is not injured - there were three or four days sick and he made one or two training sessions, that's all. Hopefully, he will be available for the FA Cup (Monday's tie at Wigan Athletic) - it depends on him.'

Toure was dropped last season for not being fit enough before he knuckled down to earn himself a new 12-month deal.

The midfielder is expected to depart the Etihad this summer and he will want to walk off into the sunset with a third title-winning medal, with City currently 16 points clear of the rest with just 11 games remaining.

Toure has already made the requisite five league appearances to qualify for a medal but City insiders have confirmed the player is lacking his optimum level and hasn't shown nearly enough in the sporadic games he has been utilised by his manager.